System of operation of typewriters



Dec. 7, 1937. w. s. LEMMON ET AL 2,101,437 SYSTEM OF OPERATION OFTYPEWRITERS 7 Filed Nov. 16, 1934 IN V EN TOR.

, 0251 m M2 4 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 7, 1937 2",l01,437

SYSTEM OF OPERATION OF TYPEWBITEBS Walter S. Lemmon, New York, N. Y.,Clyde J. Fitch, Jersey City, N. .L, and Richard F. Walz,

New York, N. Y., assignors to International Business MachinesCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York ApplicationNovember 16, 1934, Serial No. 753,254

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a system of operation of typewriters, and moreparticularly to the operation of a plurality of typewriters controlle byindicla record means. a

companying specification and claims and shown in the drawing which byway of illustration is what we now consider to be the best mode in whichwe have contemplated applying that principle.

-28 to 32 which are provided to be stepped from The system broadlyprovides for lndicia record Other embodiments of the invention employing5 control means to operate the plurality of typethe same or equivalentprinciple may be used writers or similar translating mechanisms simulandstructural changes made as desired by those taneously or to operate oneor all typewriters inskilled in the art without departing from thedependently and in succession. present invention and within the spiritof the In the disclosure of the present invention for appended claims.

purposes of illustrating the principle of opera- The invention is fullydisclosed by way of tion, one type of indicia record control meansexample in the following description and in the will be embodied, andwhich is in part in the form accompanying drawing which shows adiagramof a tape, sheet, or ribbon on which characters matic view of thesystem.

or other indicia to bereproduced are represented M is by perforations toselectively operate the particun m lar associated translatingmechanisms. Referring to the drawing, it indicates gener- The presentsystem is particularly applicable ally the preferred form of sensingdevice for to aut matic l t r W er y ms whereby indicontrolling thetypewriters II and I! which may i ll l r h v im r b y f rms m y be be ofany conventional form whereby the chartypewritten and in addition havethe addresses acter key bars and the corresponding type bars of theparticular letters typewritten automati- (not shown) are controlled bythe associated solecaliy instead of typing them manually, which at noidsl3 and M to eifect printing the characters. present is the usual method.a The following brief description of the sensing 95 To accomplish thisProcedure auto atica ly device ID will be sumcient, since a more comtwoperforated rolls or sheets are provided, one plate disclosure is made inour copending appliwhich may be termed the address roll and the cationSerial No. 743,208, filed September 8, 1934, other the letter roll. Theaddress roll controls and which as shown is provided with-a horizontallfl n n p r i n 0! the In ivid al typetransverse conducting roller i5which supports writer so that upon completion of the particular and,feeds the elongated perforated sheet it, this 30 address, anotherindividual typewriter is opersheet or roll being wide enough to containa lonated to type' a corresponding address whereupon gitudinal series ofperforations for the control at the completion of typing the individualadof each corresponding sensing brush l1. dresses the letter rollbecomes eifective to control It is adapted so that the position of asingle the operation of the bank oi typewriters simuiperforation on thesheet indicates the partlcu- 35 taneously to type the common part of theletter lar character representation. Therefore when on all the machines.the sheet isied continuously to the sensing de- It is an object ofthepresent invention to provice by suitable means, such as motor l8, andvide for independent operation of the individual when the particularbrush l1 senses its corre- 40 machines and simultaneous operation of allthe spending character perforation, a solenoid. it or 40 macmnei- I4 isenergized to depress a corresponding key Another object of the presentinvention is to bar and type bar to record the character correprovidefor operation of the. machines independsponding to the characterperforation sensed. A ently and automatically'operate all the machinescomplete description of this operation will be set at the completion ofthe independent operation. forth hereinafter. 45

Still another object is to provide for operation Rom, relay of all themachines simultaneously and to render I inoperative all the othermachines when one is In addition to the character sensing brushes l1,selected for independent operation thereof. a similar brush 20 isprovided to control the mag- Still another objectis to provide for aplurality net ii of the rotary switch or relay indicated 50 of indiciarecord control means for controlling generally at 22, which is a typewell known to the machines and rendering one inoperative when thoseskilled in the art, and consisting of a pluanotheris operative. f ralityof arcuate banks of contacts 28 to 21 adapt- Further and other obiectsof the present ined to be engaged by the individual rotary brushes llvention will be hereinafter set forth in the acmaining contacts aredivided in groups of five and connected in multiple to contacts 2, 3, 4,and 5 in each independent bank and thus permit the continuous operationof the independent cycles to be described herein.

Double step relay One of the character sensing brushes. I'Iw forcontrolling the key shift" solenoid |3a or |4a of the typewriters isprovided to energize magnet 35 of the double step relay 36 when sensingits corresponding perforation in the roll. l5. In order to type in bothupper and lower cases, it is obvious that the key shift key bar must bemaintained in its respective position for the particular typing desired.

Therefore provision to depress the shift key bar must be made so thatthe depression is maintained for the period selected for that particulartype form. This is accomplished by using a double step relay similar tothe type described in application Serial No. 746,489 filed October 2,1934, the following brief description of which will be sumcient.

Energization of magnet 35 causes its armature 31 and the associated arm38 to rotate cam wheel 39 so that its high surface forces contact blade40 into engagement with contact 4|, keeping the said contacts closed toenergize the shift solenoid |3a or |4a (the method of selecting theindividual solenoid to be described hereinafter) depending on theparticular typewriter operated. The solenoid |3a or |4a or bothdepending on the selected operation remain energized so long as contacts40 and 4| are closed, obviously printing the records in the same caseduring this period.

Engagement of the sensing brush 20 with another correspondingiperforation energizes the magnet 35 thereby stepping the cam wheel 39ahead to permit the contact blade 40 to engage a lower surface of thecam wheel to disengage the contacts 40 and 4| deenergizing theparticular key bar solenoid |3a or at. The slotted camwheel 39 isprovided with half the number of slots as there are teeth in ratchet 42;for example, if the ratchet 42 hastwenty teeth and cam wheel 39 halfthat numbecof high'surfaces, it is obvious that a single operation ofthe magnet 35 will close and maintain the contacts 40 and 4| closed anda second energization of the magnet will permit the contacts to resumethe position shown in the figure.

Individual typewriter operation The sensing devices l and I9 are similarmechanisms therefore the description of one hereinbefore need not berepeated for the device |3.

It is understood that the perforations are formed by any suitabie meansand are provided on a sheet or roll wide enough to contain alongitudinal series of perforations for the control of each element ofthe machine to be operated and used in connection with the translatingprocedure, that-is the type bars and their associated brushes 28 to 32ciated solenoids to actuate the corresponding type bars.

Let it be assumed that the perforated rolls AR I and LR are positionedon the corresponding feed ,rollers l and 45 so that when the motor I8 isent operation of the typewriters the motor l8 will be deenergized andmotor 46 energized to feed its perforated roll LR to the correspondingbrushes 4'! and 48 to control the plurality of typewriterssimultaneously.

The method of controlling the independent operation of the typewritersis as follows: Depression of the start key 5|] supplies current fromgrounded battery 5| to magnet 2| via conductor 52, through the closedcontacts of key 50 depressed momentarily, contact of the arcuate bank23, brush 28 to ground 53, energizing magnet 2| to step the brushes 28to 32 ahead to the next set of adjacent contacts in the arcuate banks 23to 27.

Brush 29 now engaging contact 2 of bank'24 permits current from groundedbattery 5| to energize relay 54, contact 2, brush 29 and ground 53completing the circuit, closing its associated contact 55 conductingcurrent from the grounded battery 5|, through the said contact 55,conductor 56, motor I8 and ground 51, starting the motor and addressroll feeding operation.

At the same'time brush 3| engages contact 2 of arcuate bank 26 toenergize control solenoid 60 by current from grounded battery 5|,through common conductor 6|, solenoid 60, return conductor 62, contact2, brush 3| to ground 53. The typewriter control contacts 63 now closed,in conjunction with the operation of motor l8 feed ing the perforatedaddress roll AR, now permit the operation of typewriter in accordancewith the perforations sensed by brushes I7.

It was mentioned hereinbefore that a perforation position is providedfor each character to be recorded by the associated typewriters, each ofthe said positions have a corresponding sensing brush I] to control theenergization of the connected'and corresponding type bar solenoid l3 bythe current flow from grounded battery 5|, common conductor 6|, theparticular solenoid I3, the corresponding contact 63 now closed,

the associated conductor 64, corresponding brush conducting roller l5,common contact 65 to ground 51.

Upon completion of recording the address or controlling operation of thetypewriter I, a perforation is sensed by a control brush 20 to energizemagnet 2| by establishing a circuit from grounded battery 5| throughconductor 52, magnet 2|, conductor 66, brush 20, roller I5, contactbrush 65 and ground 51.

Energization of magnet 2| advances the assoto contacts 3 of the arcuatebanks 23 to 21 similarly as mentioned hereinbefore.

Brush 29 now engages contact 3 of bank 24 to energizerelay 54maintaining the operation ofthe address roll motor, as previouslydescribed, to continue feeding the perforated roll AR.

Brush 32 now engages contact 3 ofbank 21 to I energize control solenoid61 associated with type? writer |2 by completing the circuit fromgrounded battery 5|, through common conductor 6|, solehold 61, contact3,brush 32 to ground 54 to condition typewriter I! for operation from theroll AR because of the now closed contacts I4 of solenoid 61.

Advancing the brushes 28 to 32 to contact 3 position, obviouslydeenerglzed solenoid 60 by opening its circuit at contact 2, thusrendering the typewriter Ii inoperative during the period of operationof typewriter ii.

The sensing brushes ll engaging the perforations in the advancing rollAR operate the typewriter similarly as described for the operation oftypewriter it.

Simultaneous typewriting operation Upon the completion of the previouslydescribed operation, control brush 20 sensing a perforation energizesmagnet 2| again to advance its brushes to contacts 4, whereupon brush 30completes a circuit from grounded battery 5! through relay Hi, contact'4', brush 30 to ground 53 energizing this relay to operate the motor toadvance the letter roll LR to its associated brushes 4'! and 48 byvirtue of the now closedcontact ll conducting current from battery 5ithrough said contact H, conductor 12, motor 46 to ground 13.

At the same time brushes 3i and 32 engage their respective contacts 4 toenergize the solenoids 60 and 61 in a manner previously described toclose their contacts 63 and 14 rendering both the associated typewriterssensitive to the character impulses transmitted by the sensing brushes17. In this manner it is seen that the prepunched perforations of theletter roll LR control the operation of typewriters H and i2simultaneously. Advancement of the brushes 28 to 32 from contacts 3; tot of the banks 23 to 2!- deenergized the relay E l, causingits contact55 to break the established circuit to motor i8, thereby preventing anyfurther feeding of the perforated roll AR.

It is well to note at this point that when the control brushes 2t and 48sense their corresponding perforations to energize the magnet 2i andadvance the brushes to the adjacent contacts in the arcuate banks torender the circuits to the motors it and 55 inoperative by thedeenergization of the relays 5d and it to open their respective contacts55 and ll, these said contacts are adaptedto be slow break contacts toinsure .cient operation of the motors to properly advance theircorresponding perforated rolls AR and LE to the extent that the controlperforations are beyond the sensing. position so that the brushes 2tand' it are clear of the respective periorations, thereby preventing thesaid brushes from continuing to energize the said magnet 25.

During the selective operation of the typewriters, that is either theoperation of the typewriters independently or operating all of themsimultaneously the sensing of a perforation by the brushes llc or Mudesignating a case shift, controls the. corresponding case shiftsolenoid 311 or l4a as mentioned hereinbefore. Sensing this particularperforation energizes magnet 35 to close the associated contacts 40 and4! to energize the solenoids that are in an operative or closed circuit,namely the circuit established from grounded battery 5! through commonconductor ti to solenoid i311 or |4a or both depending on the positionof the contacts 68 and I4 and previously explained, then through thecommon return conductor it, contacts 40 and H now closed to ground.

brushes "a or 41a sensing a perforation causes the contacts 40 and 4| toopen deenergizing the established circuits just described. At thecompletion of the simultaneous operation of the typewriters the magnet2! is energized by the circuit completed by the control brush 48 asexplained hereinbefore to advance the brushes 28 to 32 from contacts 4to 5, and brush 30 engaging contact 5 of bank 25 keeps relay I energizedto further advance the roll LR. The transmission of another impulsethrough control brush 48 energizes magnet 2| to advance the brushes 28to 32 from contacts to 6.

Advancement of the said brushes from contacts 4 to 5 cuts out theenergized solenoids 6B and 61, and further advancement of the brushesfrom contacts 5 to 0 cuts out the motor 46 and I relay 10 to restorethesystem to a normal posiited only as indicated by the scope of the fol-'lowing claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In a system of the class described, a pluralityof typewriters, a plurality of perforated record control sheets,individual sensing means cooperating therewith, typewriter selectingmeans, a rotary control switch comprising banks of individual contactsand associated brushes adapted to cooperate with the correspondingcontacts, said typewriter selecting means associated with certain ofsaid contacts, and means under control of one of the said sensing meansand control sheets to position said brushes to select certain oi saidtypewriters in accordance with the sensed perforations.

2. In a system of the class described, a plurality of typewriters, aplurality of perforated record control sheets, individual sensing meanscooperating therewith, typewriter selecting means, a rotary controlswitch comprising banks of individual contacts and associated brushesadapted to cooperate with the corresponding contacts, circuitsassociated with certain of said contacts to control said typewriterselecting means, means under control of one of said control sheets toposition said brushes to engage certain contacts to effect the selectionof certain of said typewriters in sequence, and also to position saidbrushes to engage other contacts to eflect the selection of the saidtypewriters in unison.

3. In a system of the class described, a plurality of typewriters, aperforated record control sheet, sensing means cooperating therewith, arotary control switch comprising banks of individual contacts andassociated brushes adapted to cooperate with the corresponding contacts,

typewriter selecting means associated with certain of said contacts, andmeans under the control of one of said sensing means to position thesaid brushes step by step to control the operation of the saidtypewriter selecting means in suc-. cession.

4. In a system of the class described, a plurality of typewriters, aplurality of perforated record control sheets, individual sensing meanscooperating therewith, typewriter selecting means, a rotary controlswitch comprising banks of individual contacts and associated brushesadapted to cooperate with the corresponding contacts, circuitsassociated with certain of said contacts to control said'typewriterselecting means, other circuits associated with certain other of thesaid contacts, switching means included in the last named circuits tocontrol the positioning of said brushes to engage certain of saidcontacts toefiect the selection of certain of said typewriters, meansunder control of one of said sensing means and control sheets toposition said brushes to engage certain other contacts to effect theselection of certain other of said typewriters and also to position thebrushes to engage other contacts to efiect the selection of saidtypewriters in unison, and means under control of another of saidsensing means and control sheets to position the rushes to engage thesaid contacts associated with the circuits including the said switching10 means.

WALTER S. LEMIMON.

CLYDE J. FITCH.

RICHARD F. WALZ.

